CARING FOR
YOUR LINEN
LOVE THE LINEN YOU'RE IN
Caring for your linen couldn't be more simple when ensuring you are getting the most out of your summer garments. This strong and durable material is a seasonal favourite time and time again, and we feel it is vital to follow a series of straightforward steps to maximise on the longevity of your linen styles. Read on to follow our 'how to' guide.
HOW TO CLEAN LINEN
Prior to Washing:
- Try to pre-treat any existing stains with stain remover (alternatively you can use baking soda and a few small drops of white vinegar blotted into the fabric).
- Address any marks and stains as soon as they develop; this will give them less of a chance to absorb into the fibre making them harder to clean.
- Avoid bleach! This can damage the linen fibres and cause your item to discolour.
- Another one to skip; fabric softener. Linen grows softer over time as you wash and care for it, and adding fabric softener only coats the fibres and reduces their absorbency and moisture-wicking properties.
- Review garment specific care instructions on the label.
Machine wash:
- Set your machine to a 30 degree wash, preferably a gentle setting.
- Avoid overcrowding the machine - this can result in multiple fabrics getting caught up and stretching the linen fibres.
Hand washing:
- Grab your basin and check it for any residue dirt.
- Add a single teaspoon of mild detergent to the basin with lukewarm water.
- Soak the garment for several minutes.
- Do not ring out the fabric, simply use a gentle back and forth motion.
- Drain the basin and refill with clean, lukewarm water.
- Rinse the garment until all suds have gone - refill the basin and repeat if necessary.
TOP TIP:
Before moving onto the drying steps, lay a clean towel on a flat surface with your garment laid out on top. Roll both layers together like a swiss roll and gently squeeze before unrolling - this procedure removes excess water from the garment and aids the drying process.
HOW TO DRY LINEN
- Prewashed linen can be machine/tumble dried on a low heat.
For best results, remove the item from the dryer when it is still slightly damp and leave to air-dry for the remaining time. - Best results come from air-drying linen as this helps to maximise on the softness of the item and prevents it from drying with creases .
- When hanging the garment to air-dry, preferably use a padded hanger so as not to strain the fabric.
- Hang in a dry, well-ventilated area or outdoors.
HOW TO IRON LINEN
- Ironing linen produces more effective results when the linen is damp - this can be done using a moisture spray or steam option on the iron.
- Set the iron to the linen / medium-hot setting.
- Hang your linen garment straight after ironing to avoid creasing.
NOTE: Linen is a natural fibre and is prone to wrinkling and creasing, it is not essential to iron your linen garments.
HOW TO STORE LINEN
- Only proceed to store your garment if it has dried fully - this will help to avoid mildew.
- Always hang your linen if you want to avoid too much creasing.
- Linen is naturally breathable, making areas that are both well-ventilated and dry the best places to store it.
- Try to avoid hanging your item in direct sunlight so as to not cause discolouration.
- If you wish to store your garment in a clothes bag, avoid the plastic kind and look at sourcing one made of linen.
At Celtic & Co., we continue to take certain essential steps to ensure that we are going the extra mile when selecting and sourcing our fabrics.
Read more about the properties and sourcing of our linen garments on our Sustainable Materials page.